Antonio Hernández
In a video released Monday on his Truth Social platform, former President Donald Trump clarified his stance on abortion, asserting that he believes the issue should be determined by individual states rather than a federal mandate.
“Many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights,” Trump stated in the video. “My view is now that we have an abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land — in this case, the law of the state.”
Trump refrained from specifying a timeline for implementing restrictions on abortion. Instead, he highlighted the current diversity in state regulations that emerged following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
“Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative than others and that’s what they will be,” he said. “At the end of the day it’s all about will of the people.”
The former president, anticipated to be the Republican nominee for the upcoming presidential race, had signaled his intention to address the topic after evading questions regarding the gestational period at which he believes abortion should be prohibited.
Following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, Republican-controlled states have enacted a series of restrictive measures on abortion, prompting Democrats to leverage the issue for political gain.
“You must follow your heart on this issue,” Trump urged. “But remember, you must also win elections to restore our culture and, in fact, to save our country, which is currently and very sadly a nation in decline.”
Despite polling indicating a majority of Americans support legal access to abortion in the early stages of pregnancy, the landscape remains divisive.
According to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll from last June, about half of U.S. adults support abortion up to the 15-week mark.
The landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision affirmed the constitutional right to abortion until the point of viability, typically around 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy.
Late-term abortions are infrequent and often performed due to severe fetal abnormalities, maternal health risks, or logistical delays in accessing the procedure, as noted by the health policy research firm KFF.
